I recently spent an evening with two old friends, the brother and cousin of ApologetiX founding member Andy Sparks. APX originally had two lead guitarists, and Andy was one of them. You can hear some of his guitar playing and some of his (deliberately) silly backing vocals on our Isn't Wasn't Ain't CD. By the time we recorded Radical History Tour, Andy had become our bass player, filling the void after Jerry Hayostek left.

Andy is a brilliant musician and one of the sweetest, funniest guys you will ever meet. I first met him in the 1980's when he and I were in a nameless garage band with his cousin Chris. Unfortunately, Andy struggled (and still struggles) with paranoid schizophrenia. By August 1994, his condition had made it too difficult for him to continue with us, and he called me before a concert and told me he needed to retire immediately.

Andy and I do stay in touch, though, and in recent correspondence he said, "I've been doubly blessed by your CDs — first hearing and re-listenings. I had them to hear during rough times — very comforting. I have been wearing them out. Very thankful for them."

He still believes that God will heal him someday from his affliction and said in another recent letter "The Lord and I are fighting a battle to gain my freedom."

Please keep Andy in your prayers. In a letter I got from him a few weeks ago, he said, "I just finished the tour of my doctors for this year. I have anxiety when I go anywhere with Dad, and I'm finally on Valium. Without prayer, where would we be? Thank you for your prayers."